jacksonianmarch

Youk's injury isnt all puppies and rainbows either. It was a very rare injury to an incredibly important muscle in the hand. I would assume he's worked his ass off to work his muscles back from the atrophy of not being used, but my guess is he takes a few weeks to get re-acclimated before hitting like he typically does. Neither of these injuries should limit their abilities, I just think the media downplayed their potential impact on 2011. If I were Tito, I'd have Youk DHing a fair amount especially vs lefties and I would also make sure to rest Pedey a fair amount as well

If you fracture through the navicular bone and it doesnt heal correctly, then a part of the bone could actually die. If that happens, then the foot doesnt line up right and chronic pain ensues. It isnt something that will end a career or anything, it just might mean he'll always have pain regardless of how well it has healed. He might just have to deal with it and move on

Right now, the sox system in the minors is in shambles, but it was sure as hell productive. Graduated Buchholz, Bard, and Kalish over the past 2 seasons and was key in acquiring 2 all star players in their prime in VMart and AdGon. Right now, Doubront and Iglesias are the top tier talents still considered rookies in the system and a lot of talented yet very much unproven players below them. Make no bones about it, the sox system was ridden hard and put away wet, which is better than keeping all of the players and seeing 70% of them not amount to s*** due to injury or ineffectiveness. But the restocking started 2yrs ago with HS talent and really just started adding college level talent last yr. It's gonna be at least 2 yrs before the sox actually see a real top 10 ranking (KLaw's rankings are a joke, so I am talking BA, BP, AOLf or scout.com). But they have the building blocks, I like the kids they have, but they havent shown enough to be on the prospect map yet. 2011 will be big for their farm in either re-establishing themselves in terms of talent or possibly forcing their hand into a full out assault on the draft bonus babies who drop. If half the kids from the 2009 draft play to their potential in 2011 and half their high bonus college kids from 2010 play to their potential, the sox will be solid again.

Marshall came out showing the stuff that got him drafted, but showed control of his arsenal. When he came back, it wasnt even a challenge for him at the same level that smashed him up pretty good in 2009. He went back to the slider, which was key and also showed a really good changeup. The amazing thing is, he was 12 months post TJ and his velo was all the way back and then some. When he came back, he was stronger, wiser and under more control. His fastball had more movement, better location and he changed speed with it. He had all the looks of an ace out there, in the mold of a Tim Hudson (size being the big comparison). 74 baserunners in 72IP with a much improved walk and groundball rate and 5 less homers translates into big improvement for this kid. Big things are ahead of him. From a pitching standpoint, this farm is dominant. MLB- Nova AAA- Phelps, Noesi, Mitchell, Brackman, and Warren AA- Betances, Banuelos, Bleich, Stoneburner, Hall A+- Heredia, Black, Marshall, Ramirez, Romanski A- Turley, O'Brien, Mitchell, Greene, Varce SS- Encinas, Cabrera, Agramonte, DePaula, Gerritse, DeLuca, Rutchkyj, J. Pena, and Rincon Then the relievers like.. Kahnle, Mullee, Whitley, Burawa, Nuding, Barreda, Checo, Venditte, R. Sanchez, Duff, Whelan, Olbrychowski, Braboy, Flannery and others. This system is stacked. I expect more young pitching talent to be injected into the system over the next 6 months or so with the INTL FA period and the draft around the corner.

Burnett has always been a bit of a head case. You remove the guy all of a sudden who is working on your mechanics and most pitchers are fine. Well, we all know AJ is a bit weak in terms of mental toughness. Also, his wife left him. Regardless, nothing about his stuff says that he is a 6ERA pitcher, like he was from June 1 on. Prior to June, he was 6-2 with an ERA in the mid 3's. Afterwards, he was 4-13 with an ERA over 6. Something changed acutely. His stuff is still top notch, he isnt injured, his personal stuff is behind him, and he will have a pitching coach noted for being big on mechanics. If he was complaining of a barking elbow or shoulder or has a massive drop in velo, then I would be on board with you. But his velo dropped a slight amount from last yr and he had a sudden, drastic turn for the worse. I think he rebounds, as I think Beckett does, to an ERA around 4

Warren is too low, Laird is too high. Brewer doesnt belong on the list and neither does Bleich after having his labrum redone. Phelps is also too low and Williams a bit too high for a guy who hasnt played. I would have much rather seen DePaula and Romero in the 29-30 slots as I think both of those guys will be top 10 prospects by 2013

Well, the sox were weak at the upper levels, then traded their two best prospects in Rizzo and Kelly. Didnt help that Iglesias hasnt shown much with the bat and Anderson fizzled out. Regardless, but 2012, 2013, I think they will have a few top 100s again once the kids show what they are made of

It's not all about right now, though. It's about projection, age, handedness and stuff. Banuelos projects as an ace. Hellickson does as well, although I think handedness and age favor ManBan

And his numbers after Eiland left bear that out. Imagine that, your pitching coach leaves then your wife leaves. Probably not the best way to prepare yourself for the games. I remember the YES stat after 6 of his starts without Eiland and his ERA was over 10. He'll bounce back, I am sure of it. For once, injury isnt the problem, which is promising for the Yanks

Too kind to Banuelos? Sitting 92-94 from the left with a plus curve and change at 19 is about as good as you are gonna get. By the end of the yr, he was sitting 94-96. He's legit.

He isnt. He had over 130ABs, which means he is no longer a rookie

Harper has already been converted to OF

I agree there. Without Pettitte, the sox make their hay in the #2, #4, and #5 spots. Move Pettitte up into the #2 spot and CC-Pettitte compare favorably with Lester-Buchholz and Hughes-Burnett-Nova compare favorably albeit a bit down compared to the sox back end. I also think Nova is going to be very solid this season, ERA mid 4s and 150-170IP.

Pettitte looks to be coming back... We dont have Javy Vazquez anymore... AJ Burnett will not have a 5+ERA again... Phil Hughes is another year wiser and stronger... The sox have an advantage, a huge one if the Pettitte rumors turn out to be false and he stays home. But it's not as big as you surmise if he does return. Now, things can change. Especially if Beckett and Lackey bounce back to sub 4ERA pitchers. But assuming Pettitte comes back, my guess is the Yankee starters are about 100IP short compared to your starters and will have a 0.20 deficit in ERA

This draft wont change these rankings next season, maybe 2 yrs down the line. Regardless, the reason why the Yanks are 5 is their upper level talent, their pitching talent, and their catching talent. As it stands right now, we arent going to be tapping into too much of it this season with Martin in the fold and if Pettitte returns. So unless Cash unloads the farm for a prime time player, I expect the Yanks to be top 5 again next yr. For the sox, their 2011 draft is moot for the 2012 rankings, but I love their 2009 draft and likes their 2010 draft a lot. If the kids from the 09 draft graduate well into the long season leagues, then the sox should jump up into the #12-14 range

Yanks will offer him $12 million, which is a 500K raise from last yr. That seems reasonable for a guy who couldnt finish the season. Regardless, Heyman seems to have all the info this yr and it sounds like he is expecting Pettitte to be here on opening day. If that is so, then we have pulled about a nose ahead of the sox IMO, especially after the Soriano signing.

Which makes me think he's comin back. I actually think he might benefit from a June return or so. Let's say he reports in mid April rather than mid February, works out for 2 weeks just like pitchers and catchers, throws in minor league games for a month and comes back June 1. He'd probably be better suited to finish the season strong

Iglesias is not a good hitter right now and projects as a guy with very little power and little plate discipline. His glove is his meal ticket and from the sounds of it, his bat doesnt have much of any projection

Cashman isnt leaving, lets just get that straight. The Yankees GM spot is the most glamorous spot in baseball, it just comes with certain annoyances. That being said, it also comes with unrivalled perks. He's disagreed with them before and he did fine

Wells was at -7UZR in the OF last yr and Hunter was at -6.3. They have both lost a few steps

Well, I dont expect the M's to deal Felix this season. I do expect him to be on the block in the offseason, though. His salary for 2010 was $6.5 million. In 2011, it will be $10 million, but in 2012, he jumps to $18.5 million, $19.5 million in 2013 and $20 million in 2014. That's a hefty 3yrs and $58 million after this season. If the prospects the M's obtained (Smoak +) and their own rooks (Saunders especially) don't make a major step forward in 2011, then they might enter full out rebuilding mode. And there is no better way to do that than to deal away the best pitcher in baseball who is 24 yrs old who is locked up for 3 more seasons. Right now, there is no reason for the M's to deal him. But I have a feeling he gets moved prior to the 2012 season

Now imagine Soriano and Rivera. Double lights out.

Of course he has the backing of the FO. He took over the reigns completely in 2006 and was handed a team with aging stars and no farm system whatsoever. He signed a bunch of guys and turned the team into champs in 2009 and was 2 games from the WS last season AND he has a top 5 farm system ready to fill in holes with young and sustainable talent

Really? Oakland over the Yankees as is right now? Wow. Homer